We started out month-long tour of the Iberian Peninsula in Pamplona, Spain to coincide with the San Fermin Festival. We continued along of Basque Country to the Guggenheim Bilbao and prehistoric caves near Santander. Along the way, we got a sample of Spanish tapas and Basque cuisine.

Pamplona
07/07-10/12: San Fermin Festival is a week-long celebration in Pamplona, Spain from July 7-14 each year. Every morning starts at 8am with the Encierro (running of the bulls) where hundreds of runners join 6 bulls and 6 steer to run along crowded alleys to the bull ring. There are a few injuries daily. The same 6 bulls are engaged in bull fights with renown matadors at 6:30pm each afternoon and killed in a festive atmosphere, reminiscent of modern gladiator fights. There are family events in Plaza de Castillo and Plaza de Constitution such as the parade of Gigantes y Cabezudos (big heads), musical performances, and each day ends with fireworks at 11pm. Everyone dresses in white with red scarf & sash. The event has been held since 1591 in honor of Saint Fermin, patron saint of Navarre. A convenient legend claims he was dragged to his death by bulls in Pamplona. The festival was made famous to the English speaking world by Ernest Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises. Otherwise, during the week, the town center is full of drunken, rowdy crowds and the streets are covered with broken glass, beer, and the stench of urine. Most locals leave town during the celebration. We won’t be in a hurry to return.

Bilbao
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Santander
07/12/12: Santander is a northern seaside town with plenty of fresh seafood. It was a beautiful, sunny day for the beach. We also took a quick half-hour ride to the charming village of Puente Viesgo to visit the paleolithic caves of El Castillo, which boasts the oldest cave paintings in Europe. The prehistoric art is believed to date around the time of Neanderthals. Charcoal black and iron oxide red were used to draw bison, horses, and outline handprints. Sometimes, the artists used the natural cracks in the rocks to define shapes.

See more photos in the album.